Compare towns
Winchester vs Hooksett vs Needham vs Andover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Winchester has the highest household income ($230k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Needham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Andover has the most renters (20.1% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Winchester | Hooksett | Needham | Andover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 23,406 |
15,057Lowest |
32,459 |
36,652Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.5±1.9 9% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
| Needham and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 27.6%±2.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 79.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $230,198±$21kHighest 185% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13k 165% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16k 114% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,215,200±$39kHighest 265% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22k 157% above U.S. |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,279±$481 61% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129 56% above U.S. |
| Needham and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.3%±13.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1954Lowest 26 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 33.8%±3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Winchester and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #11 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #68 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Winchester | Hooksett School District | Needham | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| High school in town | Winchester High School | None in town | Needham High | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.